By Benjamin A. Commey
Accra, Aug. 22, GNA – Tema Senior High School (TEMASCO) have been crowned champions of the Fifth Edition of the Afram Publications Ltd and Ghana Publishers Association (GPA) inter-school debate competition.
They edged Winneba SHS in a keenly contested final, which was on the motion: “The publishing industry has been adversely affected by the lack of copyright enforcement: Are authors and publishers deserving of copyright protection?”
TEMASCO secured 161.1 points to beat Winneba SHS, who scored 157.7 points.
Swedru SHS came third with 80.5 points, while Okuapeman SHS placed fourth with 76.6 points.
The contest, organised by Afram Publications Ltd and the GPA, was to afford five students (debaters) from each of the four competing schools the opportunity to pitch ideas to address the pertinent issues identified in the selected topics.
Also, it was to build their communication skills as well as give them an avenue to exchange knowledge and share their thoughts on issues of national interest.
The debate formed part of activities marking the 22nd Ghana International Book Fair (GIBF), which started on August 20, expected to end on August 23, 2025, on the theme: “Inclusive Publishing, Celebrating Accessible Literature.”
The first contest saw Swedru SHS lock horns with Winneba SHS on the topic: “The devastating effect of illegal mining (galamsey) on the environment is due to non-implementation of appropriate policies.”
Winneba SHS won the contest, securing 85.2 points, with Swedru SHS securing 80.5 points.
TEMASCO also engaged Okuapeman SHS in the second contest on the topic: “Indiscipline in schools is a result of deficiencies in the school curriculum.”
TEMASCO won with 81.2 points, while Okuapeman secured 76.6 points.
Based on the points scored by the four schools in their respective contests, a grand finale was scheduled between TEMASCO and Winneba SHS.
As winners, TEMASCO received a plaque, books and desktop computer.
Winneba, Swedru, and Okuapeman Senior High Schools received plaques and books for finishing second, third and fourth, respectively.
In an interview with the media, Madam Harriet Adelaide Tagoe, Managing Director, Afram Publications Ltd, said the debate was to offer an opportunity to the youth to share their opinions on issues of national interest.
“We also want to give students the chance to interact with each other on topical issues that have interest for us as publishers,” she added.
Madam Tagoe said, as writers, they took key interest in issues that were of national interest, indicating that they would utilise some of the suggestions made by the debators in their subsequent publications.
“Currently, we will take down notes from what they (debators) have suggested and then we would share with the appropriate contestants. Some of these would end up coming out in the books we publish,” she added.
Mr Edward Udzu, the Vice President, GPA, emphasised the importance of the contest, stressing that the annual event was worth more than a competition.
“This competition isn’t just about winning but enhancing our communication skills and knowledge sharing,” he said.
Miss Lois Tweneboah Kodua, a member of the TEMASCO debate team, lauded the competition, describing it as “entertaining and educative.”
She said the competition offered them the opportunity to contribute to national discourse such as the illegal mining menace, popularly known as “galamsey.”
She urged the authorities to make the competition a regular activity to improve the communication skills of the youth, particularly students.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe